Electroplating-machine



H. A. SEDGWICK AND P. J. SHEEHAN.

ELECTROPLATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3. 1917.

1,367,5 7, Patented Feb. 8,1921.

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3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Patented Feb. 1921.

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HARRY A. SEDGWICK AND PATRICK J- SHEEHAN, OF.MILWAUKEE, WIfiGDNfiIN.

TELEGTRUPLAT'TNG-MAUHINE.

1 ,Zltit ,55?

Application filed March 3,

To all to ham it may concern:

lie it known that we, HARRY A. SEDGWTCK and PATRICK J. SHEEHAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Tmprovements in Electroplating-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to electroplating machines.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character stated, of increased efficiency.

A further object is to provide a machine of the character stated which shall be capable of practically continuous action, and wherein the removal of the finished product, and the introduction of other material to be treated, may be accomplished during and without interruption of the plating operation.

A further object is to provide a machine of the character stated of materially increased capacity without substantial increase in the dimensions of such machine or in the driving power employed. I

A further object is to expedite handling of both the finished product and the material to be treated and to facilitate the simultaneous treatment of different classes of material without intermingling thereof.

A still further object is to provide a machine of the character stated in which the electrolytic effect upon the purely mechanical parts thereof is minimized.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein is illustrated an embodiment of the invention, I

Figure 1 is an end elevational view of the machine, certain parts being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the machine;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing in detail certain features of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a similar enlarged view showing further details of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the machine illustrated comprises, in general, a cradle 1 carrying series of alternately arranged anodes 2 and receptacles 3 for material to be Specification of Eetters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921..

1917. Serial No. 152,174.

plated which will constitute cathodes, mounted for rotation within a tank 4 containing an electrolyte 5, said cradle being driven by a motor 6 acting through a gear train 7, and provided with conductor rings 8, 9 and cooperating contact fingers 10 for supplying current to said electrodes, together with the usual fixed anodes 11 mountedin spaced relation on either side of said cradle.

The cradle 1 comprises essentially a pair of similar and symmetrically arranged circular head members 12, held together by a series of elongated bolts 13 and maintained in spaced relation by means of spacer sleeves 14 surrounding said bolts respectively and abutting the inner faces. of said head members which are centrally bored for mounting upon a supporting shaft 15 upon which they are keyed. The ends of said shaft are mounted in bearings 16 which are suspended from the upper edges of the tank 4: and secured thereto by suitable screws and bolts.

Each of the head members includes a circular rim 17 having exteriorly located gear teeth 18, a hub 19 and four radial webs 20 therebetween. Each web is bored to receive the ends of two bolts 13 as described, and the radially convergent edges of adjacent webs are turned inwardly ofthe cradle to provide supporting surfaces 21 for the respective ends of the cathode receptacles 3. Each head member is further provided on its side exterior to said cradle with an annular flange 22 for carrying one of the conductor rings 8,9.

The receptacles 3 are provided to carry the material being plated while supplying current'thereto, and each of said receptacles comprises an elongated box, substantially triangular in cross section and composed of wood, or other suitable material. Each box includes a pair of substantially triangular end members 23, a beveled bottom member 24 and side members 25, accurately fitted and secured to said bottom and end memhere. A removable cover'26 is also provided for each box and rests upon the outer edges of the end and side members which latter are reinforced by blocks 27 to support the same. In practice, the boxes, preferably four in number, are supported within the cradle with their sides 25 extending substantially radially thereof and supported at their ends lby the radial surfaces 21 of the head memers.

The bones are ot such length as to be readily iusertible between the gear tlanges 17 ot' the cradle heads when assembled, and are releasably held therewithin by means ot specially constructed latches 28 which serve t'urtheir to releasably secure the covers upon till the boxes, each at which is provided with a latch at either end. Each latch comprises an elongated bolt 29 slidably mounted with in suitable guides 30., 31 and having an upwardly bent and rounded knob 32 tor engagement with the under side oi? the gear rim 1'4" the guide being secured to the end of the boa: 3 by means of screws, while the guide 31 is secured to the cover by means oi bolts 33. An abutment plate is also secured to the top of the cover as tor engagement by the lower end 0t an adjustable loch.- ing member 35 which is screw threaded within a suitable bore 86 ot the bolt flu integral hand wheel 37 is provided on the outer end ot the locking member 35 to tacilitate turning thereot .while the abutment plate 3t is provided with a pair of shallow sockets 38., 39 to receive the end ol the locking member tor insuring proper positioning of the bolt 29 in different operative relations.

The latches when in the relation shown in 3;, serve to hold the covers upon the bones and all in position within the cradle. To remove any box from the cradle, the locking members located at its ends are screwed up out of engagement with their sockets 38 thereby releasing the bolts 29 which may then he slid inwardly out oi engagement with the rims 17, the knobs 32. however, being retained beneath the guides 80. The locking .mcmbers 3!" are now screwed down to engage the sockets whereby the cover is still held upon the box which may be lifted outside the cradle and tanlr and placed in suitable position for washing and emptying. The loclting mem-.

bers 35 are again unscrewed to release the bolts which are then shifted so that the lrnobs 32 clear the guides 30 whereupon the cover 26 may be removed trom the boar. Each of the bolts 29 is provided with an eye 40 for the attachment of suitable hoisting taclrle for raising and positioning the bones.

The bones have their bottoms, sides and covers perforated to permit circulation of the electrolytetherethrouglm and the interior at each box is provided with suitable conductive strips l2 extending along the bottom sides thereof while other conductive strips may be secured to the inside of the hon near the cover. All of the aiore-mentinned conductors are in electrical connec' tion with an interiorly located end strip at which extends outside the bottom of the box to form a contact for engagement with a cooperating contact lli carried by the hub 19 when the bot. is secured upon the cradle i ,ee'ne or said contact as being electrically connected with the ring 8 through an insulated flexible conductor all.

The contact ib is mounted upon the outer end of a shouldered reciprocable insulating plug 48 carried within a radial recess 49 in the hub 19, said plug being slotted at 50 to receive a pin til which extends through said slot and the adjacent portions of said hub for retaining said plug in suitable relation within the hub while permitting a limited reciprocation ot' the "former with respect to the latter A helical spring 52 is compressed within an axial bore in the inner end or said plug for forcing the same toward the contact said spring abutting an insulating disk located within and completely filling the bottom of the recess. The engaging surfaces of the contact i6 and the plug t8 are formed substantially spherical to permit a slight rocking movement of the former upon the latter. ldy the above described construction a positive engagement of the contacts is insured so long as the box is secured upon the cradle.

Each oi the movable anodes 2 comprises a plurality of similar sections 5%, mounted upon the bolts 13 outside the spacer sleeves 1t and insulated therefrom by means of nonconductive bushings 55 surrounding the latter. Each anode section includes a thin lat body portion enlarged at its ends and bored to fit snugly about the respective insulating bushings 55. The body portions are turther provided with laterally extending fins or webs 56 t'or increasing both the mass and the active surface of the section said webs being tapered whereby, when assembled their outer edges lie substantially upon radii of the cradle. Eipacer blocks or washers 57 of wooth or other suitable non-conductive material, are mounted upon the bushings adjacent the heads 12 to insure intimate con tact between said anode sections when as sembled and to insulate the adjacent sections from said heads. Obviously the thickness ot the bloclrs may be readily varied during assembly to compensate tor variations in thickness of the sections. The sections ot each anode are further electrically connected by means oil a conductive bar 58 lying across the outer ends thereof and secured to each by means of screws 59. Each bar 58 is electrically connected with the ring 9 by means of a tlenible conductor 60 extending within the periphery of the cradle and insulated theretrom whereby current is supplied to all the movable anodes.

The conductive rings 8. 9 are mounted upon the flanges 22 ot' the respective heads 12 and spaced therefrom by means of insulating blocks 61 located at intervals about the periphery of said flanges, and composed of wood or other suitable material, said rings being secured in place by means otconductive bolts 62 passing through the flanges 22 and insulated therefrom. The ring 8, which is connected with the cathode members, is preferably composed of brass although any highly conductive material current source through the contact finger.

10 which is resiliently mounted for continuous engagement with said ring, the cathode ring 8 being similarly connected with the negative side of said direct current source.

The afore-described cradle is driven by the electric motor 6 through transmission mechanism 7 including a flexible connection 63, a worm wheel 64 and worm gear 65. which latter is located upon a countershaft 66. Pinions 67 are keyed upon said countershaft in suitable relation to respectively engage the gear teeth 18 of the cradle heads whereby power from the motor is transmitted to the cradle at a greatly reduced speed. A single pinion in mesh with one of the gears is usually sufficient for driving purposes.

ln' practice, the motor and gearing are mounted upon a base 68 which is releasably secured upon the upper edge of the tank l by means of suitable bolts. Said base, with its attached motor and transmission mechanism, upon release of said bolts, being bodily slidable in a horizontal direction away from the cradle whereby the latter may be removed from the tank for inspection or repair,

- The anodes 11 or" the machine are in the form of rods or bars of suitable cross section suspended within the electrolyte on either side of the cradle by means of suitable cross bars 69 resting upon the top of the tank, said anode bars being curved to extend sub stantially about the respective sides of the cradle, being spaced a suitable distance therefrom to provide clearance and insure an efficient arrangement for electrical deposition. All of the aforesaid fixed anodes are electrically connected with the positive side of the direct current source.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the positive and negative movable electrodes are mounted upon the cradle in alternate relation with their adjacent sides substantially parallel to provide a maximum of cooperating surface, and spaced from each other by an amount which is tound in practice to be most advantageous; Since said electrodes are fixed .with relation to each other, the distance between the respective anodes and cathodes does not change appreciably, such electrodes being maintained substantially in the desired relation.

The cathode boxes are removable singly from the rotor for discharging and recharging and during this operation the plating action in the remaining boxes is uninterrupted. Furthermore, the material within each box is entirely separate from that in the other box whereby classes of material diiiering in character may be handled at the same time without intermingling. The material undergoing treatment being further divided among the four quadrants of the cradle the balance of the latter is substantially maintained, whereby the power necessary for driving the same is greatly reduced. Furthermore, during discharging and recharging of the cathode box the cradle as a whole is not removed from the tank.

The electrical connections of the electrode being independent of the driving gears and shafting, there is present little or no tendency to plate the latter, the electrolytic action being practically confined to said electrodes.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electroplating machine, the com bination with an electrolyte tank, of a cathode receptacle, an anode, and means supporting said receptacle and said anode within said tank in an exteriorly spaced relation nd providing for joint movement thereof within said tank.

2. In an electroplating machine, the combination with an electrolyte tank, of a plurality of alternately arranged cathode re ceptacles and anodes, and means supporting said receptacles and anodes in spaced rela tion and providing for joint movement within said tank.

3. ln an electroplating machine, the combination with an electrolyte tank, of a cathode receptacle and an anode, and means supporting said receptacle and said anode in a spaced relation and providing for joint translatory movement thereof within said tank about an axis.

l. ln an electroplating machine, the combination with an electrolyte tank, of a rotatable cradle therein and a plurality of cathode receptacles and anodes carried by said cradle, said receptacles being individually eccentric to the axis of said cradle.

5. ln an electroplating machine, the combination with an electrolyte tank. of a cradle rotatable therein, and a plurality oi alternately arranged cathode receptacles and anodes carried by said cradle, said receptacles and anodes being individually eccentric to the axis of said cradle.

8. ln an electroplating machine, the combination with .an electrolyte tank, of a cradle rotatable therein, a plurality of anodes carried by said cradle and a plurality of sector shaped cathode receptacles cradle rotatable therein, a plurality of alter nately arranged cathode receptacles and anodes carried by said cradle, said recepta- 'cles and anodes being in the form of sectors assembled about the axis of said cradle and having their adjacent sides substantially parallel and suitably spaced.

9*. In an electroplating machine, the combination with an electrolyte "tank, of a cathode receptacle and an anode, means supporting said cathode receptacle and said anode in a spaced relation and providing tor joint translatory movement thereof within said tank, and a relatively stationary anode extending within said tank.

10. in an electroplating machine, the combination with an electrolyte tank, or a cathode receptacle and an anode, means supporting said receptacle and saidanode in a spaced relation and providing for joint translatory movement thereof tank, said receptacle being in the form of a hollow box releasably secured to said supporting means, and means for connecting said receptacle and said anode with a source oft current.

11. lln an electroplating machine, the combination with an electrolyte tank, of a cradle rotatable therein, driving means for said cradle, a cathode receptacle and an anode carried by said cradle tor joint translatory movement therewith, a relatively fixed anode extending within said tank, and means independent ot driving connections for connecting said receptacle and said anode with a source of current.

12. lln an electroplating machine, the combination with-an electrolyte tank, of a crad rotatable therein, a cathode receptacle releasably secured upon said cradle, an anode for said tank, means for connecting said anode with a source oft current and means for connecting said receptacle to a source of current continuously while secured to said cradle, said latter connection being subject to interruption by removal of said receptacle from. said cradle.

13. in an electroplating machine the combination with an electrolyte tank, of a cradle within said cradle having means i sewer rotatable therein, an anode for said tank, a cathode receptacle releasably secured upon said cradle and comprising; a hollow box having a removable cover, and a latch for said receptacle serving jointly to secure said cover upon said box and to clamp said receptacle upon said cradle.

14. In an electroplating machine, the combination with an electrolyte tank, of a cradle rotatable therein, an anode for said tank, a cathode receptacle releasably secured upon said cradle and comprising a hollow box having a removable cover, and a latch for said receptacle serving jointly to secure said cover upon said box and to clamp said receptacle upon said cradle, said latch being operable selectively to release said receptacle from said cradle and thereafter to release the cover from said box.

15. in an electroplating machine, the combination with an electrolyte tank, of a cradle rotatable therein, an anode for said tank, a cathode receptacle removably secured upon said cradle and comprising a hollow box having a removable cover, common means for securing said cover u on said box and said box upon said crad e, said box and cover being composed of non-conductive material provided with perforations and conductive means carried interiorly of said box.

16. In an electroplating machine, the combination with an electrolyte tank, of a cradle rotatable therein, an electrode to be positively and releasably secured upon said cradle, driving means for said cradle, said independent of said driving means for electrically connecting. said electrode with a suitable source of current.

17. lln an electroplating machine, in combination, an electrolyte tank, an electrode. carrying cradle mounted for rotation therein, a motor and transmission means for driving said cradle mounted upon said tank and movable as a unit with respect thereto, said cradle having means independent or the drive thereoi for connecting the electrode thereon with a source of current.

18. in an electroplating machine, in com bination, an electrolyte tank, an electrode carrying cradle mounted for rotation therein, driving means for said cradle, an annular conductor carried by said cradle to be electrically connected with the electrode thereoi so long as said electrode is carried by said cradle and a contact finger electrically connected with a source of current and adapted to cotiperate with said annular conductor.

19. in an electroplating machine, in combination, an electrolyte tank, a circular cradle mounted for rotation with respect thereto, driving means for said cradle, a series of electrodes comprising anodes and cathode members releasably secured to said mounted for rotation therein, an anode and cradle in alternate relation for movement a cathode receptacle arranged in spaced retherevvith, said electrodes having their adlation upon said cradle for rotation therejacent sides parallel and suitably spaced With, and a relatively fixed anode extending 5 from each other, and means independent of Within said electrolyte and about said cradle 5 the drive of said cradle and operable selecfor cooperation With said cathode receptacle.

tively for connecting all or certain of said In yvitness whereof We have each hereunto electrodes with a suitable source of current. subscribed our names.

20. In an electroplating machine, in com- HARRY A. SEDGWIGK.

10 bination, an electrolyte tank, a cradle PATRICK J. SHEEHAN. 

